Turn-table extension-ladder truck



8 Sheets--Sheet' 1.

(No Model.)

E. B. PRESTON. TURN TABLE EXTENSION LADDER TRUGK.

No. 414,578. Patented Nov. a5l 1889` JM y. re

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TURN TABLE EXTENSION LADDER TRUGL Patented N015, 1889.

mu" A i N. PETERS. Phimwwmnf. Washingw.' DJI.

8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

E.. B. PRESTON. TURN TABLE EXTENSION LADDER TEUGK. No.l 414,578..

Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

SES/ef N'. PETERS. P'hololhhagnphef, Walhmgpzn. D. C.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 4,

' E. B. PRESTON. TU-EN TABLE EXTENSION LADDER TEUGK. No. 414,578. Pa/sented Nov. 5, 1889.

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(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

E. B. PRESTON. TURN TABLE EXTBNsoN LADDER HUGE.

No. 414,578. vPatented Nov. Y5, 1889.]

/f/ff (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

E. B. PRESTON. TURN TABLE BXTBNSIUN LADDER TRUCK. No. 414,578. Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

*i v i? ggd ' W ,gv @s Patins mmmmnpmr. waning im;

(No Model.) ssheets--sheei-l 7. E. B. PRESTON. TEEN TABLE EXTENSION LADDER` TRUCK.

Patented Nov. 5, 1889'.

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8 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

` E. B. PRESTON. x TURN TABLE EXTENSION LADDER TRUNK.

Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

EVERETT B. PRESTON, OF

PATENT FFICE onicneo, iLLrNois.

TU FIN-TABLE EXTENSION-LADDER TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,578, dated November 5, 1889.

Application iiled March 25, 1889. Serial No. 304,747. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known' that I, Evnnnrr B. PRESTON,

a citizen' of the United States, residing in Chior part of a building desired, and the raising mechanism of which may be operated in whatever position the ladder may be turned in relation to the truck.

In my invention the ladder is pivotally supported upon a turn-table mounted upon a truck. Three ladders are employed, one sliding or telescoping upon another and combined with suitable mechanism for extending them. The main ladder, which is pivotally supported on the turn-table, is raised to any desired eleration or inclination by a screw. This screw has right and left hand threads, and is furnished with two nuts or threaded hars, to one of which the main ladder is pivoted and to the other ot which is pivoted a connectinglink, so that as the two nuts .or threaded bars approach each other by revolving the screw the 'ladder will be raised. The screw is furnished with a beveled gear at each end, which mesh with bevel-gears on cranlesliatts extending ont each side of the truck in convenient position for operation in whatever position the turn-table may he turned in respect to the truclvfranie. rFhe screw serves not only to raise the ladder, but to hold it in any position desired for use. The extension-ladders are furnished with friction-rollers, so that they may slide easily on each other.

Myimvention consists in the novel devices and novel combinations oi parts and devices herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed but in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a turn-table extension-fire-ladder truck embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail or diagram view showing the rope or tackling connecting the main'ladder and the two extension-ladders. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the drivers seat thrown forward in the dotted lines in position for raising the ladder. Figs.

4, 5, and 6 are enlarged cross-sections on lines 4 4, 5 5, and G 6, respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. '7 is a detail side elevation of the fifth-wheel and turn-table and springs, showing the means for clamping or securing the fifth-wheel rigidly to the front axle of the truck. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the truck. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation showing the mechanism for raising the main ladder, and Fig. 10 is a plan View ofthe same. Figs. 11 and 12 toget-her show a plan View of the truck-frame, the former showing the front half and the latter the rear half of the same. Figs. 13 and 14 are enlarged cross-sections on lines 1313 and 14 14 of Figs. 11 and 12, respect-A ively. Figs. 15 and 1G are enlarged side elevations of the front and rear ends, respectively, of the truck-frame. Fig. 17 is a cross-section on line 17 17 of Fig. 15, showing the side step. Figs. 18 and 1i) together show a side elevation of the main ladder, the

former showing the lower and the latter the upper end ,ofthe same. Figs. 2O and 21 together show a plan view of the main ladder, the former being the lower and the latter the upper end of the same. Figs. 22 and 23 together show a side elevation of one of the eX- tension-ladders, the former being the lower and the latter the upper end of the same. Figs. 24 and 25 together show a plan view of one of the extension-ladders. Fig. 2G is avertical crosssection of the truclvframe, taken on line 2G 2li of Fig. 113. Figs 27 and 28 are enlarged views illustratingthc friction-roller for the extension-ladders. Fig. 29 is an enlarged view of the nut or threaded bar at the rear end of fthe screw, to which the connecting-links are pivoted. Fig. 30 is a similar View of the threaded bar or nut to which the main ladder is pivoted. Fig. 3l is a side elevation showing the latch or safety hook with IOO tion of the brake-operating lever; Fig. 34, a side elevation of the brake-shoe.

4In' the drawings, A represents the wheels of the truck; A', the axles; A2, the springs; 5 A3, the spider or frame to which the lower ring A4 of the fifth-wheel A5 is secured.

B is the truck-frame having steel side bars b, furnished withcioss brace-arnisb and diagonal brace-rods b2. The iifth-wheel rings IO A5 are rigidly secured `to ,the 'cross-bars bf.A 1 To securely clamp the two rings A4 and A5 of the fifth-wheel together when the ladder Vis elevated or in use, clips 'd are provided, as shown in Fig. '7, andA to ix the truck-frame rigidlyto the axies'AQ-So'thatthe'ladder ,when raised will not be made 'to vibrate by I ,the yielding of the springs A3, I'provide clips V allyloonlnfeot'e'datfct3 to the'spidier or franre 'A3. Theflip'sl'daie furnished with aturnlbu'kle grotrigiaemngihmafter they are placed lladd'erlfis not raisedioin use, the swinging 'vlddrDrests' The stand'ardsB2 are'also' fiirnished with rollers or revoliiblebarsf'B' 'nipponiwhich thehand-laddersI are supported. 35,'1'lhelrollrs'B4 shold be'furnished' with a 1i1bbe,r hose orI other simil'an covering B5,'to event inarringthe hand-laddenras they arelp'ushed oli-pulled ont." Bysuppo'rtingthe nd-la'ddersfon' revolving bars or vrollers"l I "fifths ,truer very quickly" and A easily. The VGro"ss-,bars B3, Whichsupport the in'ain or piv- ',ote'd ladder a'rearranged high enough o'ni'the acllds B2 to give room'for asfm'an'yv hand- .4,""'ladfers betweenitheftruck-frame" and they fiiainiadaeifas may 10e-desired.

",There'ar aXleA has lthe same fifth-wheel jei`ifn`e-c'4 tedy with the'truck-frar'ne as 'the front ailel Tlie polejor tongue'Ai is connect-ed in S'g'the: ufsu'al'vway to the front axle, and "the fifth-wheel of the rear aXl'e isf'nrnished with v lsteeringmechanism, hereinafter described.

' .',Th'efup'perring C of the" tiirn-table, lupon 4which "the main ladder D is pi'v'oted, turns on ",tlielower' lturn-table ring C", which Ais secnred bylsuit'able'brackets C2 to the' truck-frame B.

The invable ring C of theturn-'tableis furf "`1'ished'w`ith bearings C3, in which the screw -lE is journaled. lThe serew E is furnished oemthright and 10ft hand threads e e', and `in 4`lifa'stwo Jtraveling nuts or threaded bars F F',

ffinished with friction guide-rollersfat each `rend,A` which travel in guide-barsy G G, which ,fare rigidly' secured to the turn-Table C. The

.6 5l guide-barsiG have slots g','tl1`e width of which equ'alsthe diameter of the' friction-rollerf, Aand thel friction-rollers' f have collarsff,

"'tremity of theladdenand` preferably extend- 'and'left hand screw G is connected to the 'place on the truckeframe. "H'are journaledon' suitable brackets 71"-, se-

7o the friction-rollers f fit when the ladder is raised perpendicular.

The side bars of the ladder D are furnished with bent ends orarms d at the lower exing about at right angles to the ladder, so 'that' when thefladder is raised to the Vertical position these arms d may rest fiat upon the turn-table C, and thus give the ladder greater rigidity in its vertical position. The arms or bent ends d of the ladder are pivoted to the threaded bar ornu't F, the same iitting outside the frictionroller f. The threaded bar or nut F at l-the opposite end ofi-the right' ladder through 'the pivoted' links' DT', one end rof*theselinks beingpivo'tedlto the ladder at "'CZ by'tlie pivotbar d2, and the other end of the l'inksfDL'being pivoted'to th'ethreaded bars of the ladder. By turning the scr-ew E the nuts-F F `will approach each ,otli'er,v` and 'the ladder'will bel" raised from' a 4horizontal position"Vv toI any Adesir-ed inclination'.l 'The v threaded 'barjF may be simply turned down at each end to form a spindle Ft'ortlie-tric- 'tion'whfeels or rolle-rsfand for lthe-'connectvling-links'D. Anut Secures-fthe -lilnksLD ICO inserted vtliroughtheside bars ofthe-ladder f and-the,ffrietonlroller 'f,fandv1th"en screwed 105 f intothe-threaded" bar F, asshown in AliigfSO. in en'abled to remove the hand-ladders from The screwEis furnished-at each end `with bevellgearsE, whichv mesh with bevel-gears h onth'eicrank-shafts 'HHH H, whicheX-t-end out laterally "at" right angles to the screw? in 11o iconvenient'position for Athe firemen -toropverate the sam'ebythe cranks H rThe cranks vH- fit removably*uponfy the crankshafts, so

that when-not' in vluse they vmay-'be hung-in Thecrankshafts cured to tthe turn-table C. The mainladder D is' furnished with a main trussrodd3,1sup

also provided wit-h 'a series of Abrace ortruss YrodscF, extended between eachpai-rjo struts "d4, as is clearly Vshown in Fig. 18.-: The main lady der D is' furtheripiovided with pipes D2, preferably of brass, 'eXtendin g along-each side-rail under the'rungs of fthe ladder. -I-These pipes are connected together at each end of the ladderbi-anches D3 D4. `These pipes 'may be connected at' the vtop to a nozzle D-or to alength fot' flexible hose which'may be carriedby the relnen to any'desire'd height' on the extension-ladders P and Q. The apparatus thus serves not only as an aerial ladder, but also as a stand-pipe for 4conveying the Water to a height and directingthe stream. The same mechanism which serves to raise the ladder to any desired inclination for use and to turn or direct it to any part or windowr of a burning building', as may be required from time time, also serves to elevate and direct the stand-pipes or Water-pipes D2 D2.

The main ladder D,Which is pivoted on the turn-table, is furnished with cross arms or guides K at intervals, having projections k, which iit over the side bars of the extensionladder P. The side bars of the ladder P fit between these guide projections 7c and the friction rollers or Wheels k on the main ladder D. The friction-rollers 7e', upon which the side bars of the ladder P ride, may be mounted upon the rungs of the main ladder -1), and they serve to materially facilitate the raising or extension of the ladder P. Secured to the extensiondadder P are similar guidebars M, having projections m, which tit over the side bars of the final extension-ladder Q, which ride upon the friction rollers m', mounted on the rungs of the ladder P.

The two extension-ladders P and Q are simultaneously and equally7 extended by means of a Wind] ass N, journaled on the main ladder D, near the lower end thereof, and .having a cable N secured thereto, which passes around a pulley n. at the top of themain ladder, and which is secured to the extension-ladder P by a hook n near the lower end thereof. The movement of the extensiondadder P on the main ladder D simultaneously extends the fly-ladder Q on the ladder P by means of a cable N2, connected at lone end by a hook n2 to the main ladder D, and passing around a pulley 'n.3 at the top of the ladder P, and secured at its other end to the ladder Q by a hook n* near the lower end of said ladder Q. The cables N and N2 are preferably wire cables, though ordinary ropes or chains maybe used. The windlass N is revolved to extend the extensiondadders P and Q by means of a crank-shaft n.5, having a gear n meshing with a gear nl on the shaft of the windlass N.

R is the drivers seat, mounted on the turntable at the front end of the truck. It is pivoted to the standards R on the turn-table, so that it may be turned down into the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thus be out of the Way of theladder in the raising of the same. A removable pin l7, which passes through a hole in the standard R and a similar hole in the leg or shank of the seat, serves to hold the seat in its upright position.

R2 is the foot-rest mounted upon a bracket R3, secured to the standards R. It will be observed that as the main ladder D is raised the threaded bar F, to which the ladder is pivoted, moves away from the rigid seat-standards R', so that it is not necessary to remove" these standards in order to raise the ladder, which is a matter of great convenience as Well as saving of time, the latter being frequen tly of the utmost importance in the practical operation of iire apparatus.

S is the brake-operating lever, which projects in convenient position for operation by the driver.V lt is connected to the rbrake-levers S S by means of a cable s, passing over or around pulleys s', s2, and s3. The cable s is connected to links s4, which are connected to the brake-levers -S S. This is clearly shown in Figs. 32 and 34. y

The rear spider or frameAi, which is connected to the rear axle A', is furnished with a gear t, which meshes with a gear t on the operating rod or shaft T, so that by revolving` the shaft T the rear Wheels can be turned or steered in any direction desired. The shaft T has a squared end and ts removably in the socket-piece t2, to which the gear t is rigidly secured. The removable shaft T serves to hold the hand-ladders in place on their racks or supports on the standards B2.

T is the steering-wheel by which the shaft T is turned. The shaft T has a squared tapering end t3, which iits in a socket t* on the shaft of the hand-wheel T. The hand-Wheel T or its shaft is journaled in or on the frame V, pivotally connected at one end at u to the standards B2, so that this frame V may be turned into an upright position When it is desired to raise the ladders. The frame V is secured to the standards B on the opposite sides by a latch-connection or pin r', which passes through a slot '2:2 in the opposite end of the standards B2. n A handle or projection V on the cross-bars or frame "V serves as a stop to hold the frame V in avertical position. when it is turned up out of the Way. The steersmans seat Vzis mounted on this same IOO pivotal or swinging frame V, so that the act of swinging the steering-Wheel frame out of the Way of the ladders also removes the seat V2. The squared end of the steering-shaft'l is made tapering, as indicated in Fig. 26, so that the pivotal or swinging frame V on which the steering-Wheel T is journaled will permit the steeringovheel shaft and the shatt'l" to'properly en gage.

To prevent difficulty of extending the extension-ladders P and Q, due to the friction of the side bars of the ladders on each other, I provide the side bars of the ladders D, P, and Q with vertical friction-rollers L L, mounted in suitable recesses L on the inner face of the side bars of the main ladder D, near the top thereof, and on the outer face of the side bars of the extension-ladder P, near the bottom thereof, and also on the inner face of the side bars of the ladder P, near the top thereof, and on the outer face of the side bars of the ladder Q, near the bottom thereof. This is clearly shown in Figs. 2l, 24, 25, 27, and 28. It will be observed from Figs. 4,5, and G that the side faces of the side bars of the ladders D, P, and Q t against each other, and these frictionwollers L are designed to give the ladders, in connection with the rollers, a free and IIO easy movement on each other, so that they lmay be raised quickly and easily.

The side bars of the extension-ladders,which abut against the inner faces of the side bars of the main ladder, have heretofore necessarily been made with some considerable play, in order to permit the long extension-ladder to slide with reasonable freedom on the long main ladder, and this play or looseness causes the extension -ladder to vibrate laterally when extended to such a degree as often to endanger the lives of the firemen mounting the ladders. The friction-rollers L L, between the contiguous or meeting side faces of the ladder side bars, serve to take up this lateral play and to render the ladders rigid and free from lateral vibration. The friction-rollers L being countersunkrin the side bars permit the side bars to abut directly against each other, the same as heretofore, the periphery of the rollers L projecting just sufficiently to relieve the friction, so Vthat such bars of the 'extension-ladder will be properly supported by the side bars of the main ladder. By thus countersinking the friction-rollers, as shown, so that they project just sufficiently to relieve the friction between the side bars of the ladders, the side bars, by their mutual support and slight surface contact with each other, are prevented from exerting maximum and breaking strains upon the pivots of the friction-rollers when the side bars are subjected to such lateral iiexure as is unavoidable in the use of the ladder. If the friction-rollers projected so far that the 'side bars of the ladders could not come into immediate contact when subjected to great lateral strain and fiexu re, the side bars of the one ladder would receive no direct support from those of the other ladder, and the whole-lateral 4strain would come upon the pivots of the friction-rollers, thus endangering their breaking and rendering insecure the structure as a whole.

Each of the extension-ladders P and Q is furnished with safeguard-hooks WV, having a pivoted latch w, actuated by a spring w'. To prevent the hooks from engaging the rungs of the ladder when the extension-ladder is being lowered, the hook W has a projection 102, against which the' spring-latch strikes, so as to close the hook. The hook lV also hasa nose w3 to adapt it to ride over the rungs of the main ladder as the extension-ladder7 is raised. To lower the extensionfladder, it is lnecessary to first raise it slightly into the relative position indicated in Fig. 3l, so that the spring-latch w will clear the rung marked and thus move into the position shown in Fig. 3l, care being taken not to raise the eX- tension-ladder high enough to cause the hook XV to slip over the rung marked fr. These safety-hooks l/V, engaging the rungs of the lower ladder, serve'to support the extensionladder independently of the cable N' or N2 while the ladders are in use and thus render the apparatus more safe and secure.

By employing three ladders D, P, and Q, the two ladders being extended simultaneously, the main ladderD may be made much shorter and consequently can be raised much more easily and quickly by the raising-screw mechanism than can be done where only one eX- 2. The combinatiomwith a turn-table truck,

of a right-and-left screw E, traveling nutbars F F', ladder D, having bent arms d, pivoted to said nut-bar F, and links D', pivoted to said nut-bar F', said bent arms d resting upon the turn-table when the nuts F F' are screwed together near 'each other, thus giving a broad base for rigidly supporting the Vladder in its elevated position, substantially as speciiied.

3. The combination,with a turn-table truck, of a right-and-leftscrew E, traveling nut-bars F F', ladder D, having bent arms d, pivoted to said nut-bar F, and links D' pivoted to said nut-bar F', said bent arms ol resting upon the turn-'table when the nuts F F' are screwed together near each other, thus giving a broad base for rigidlyjsupporting the ladder in its elevated position, and slotted guide-bars G, secured to the turn-table,sub stantially as set forth.

4. The co mbination,with a turn-table truck, of a right-and-left screw E, traveling nut-bars F F', ladder D, having bent arms CZ, pivoted to said nut-bar F, and links D', pivoted to said nut-bar F', saidvbent arms d resting u'pon the turn-table when the nuts F F' are screwed together near each other, thus giving a broad base for rigidly supporting the ladder in its elevated position, and slotted guide-bars G secured t0 the turn-table,fur nished with stop-blocks g', substantially as specified.

5. The combination,with a turn-table truck, of a right-and-left screw E, traveling nut-bars F F', ladder D, having bent arms d, pivoted to said nut-bar F, and links D', pivoted to said nut-bar F', said bent arms d resting upon the turn-table when the nuts F F' are screwed together nearv each other, thus giving a broad base for rigidly supporting the ladder in its elevated position, and slotted guide-bars Gr secured to the turn-table, furnished with stop-blocks g', said traveling nutbars F F' having friction-rollers ff, substantially as specified.

6. The combination,with a turn-table truck, of screw E, traveling nut-bar F, ladder D,

IOO

IOS

Ilo l pivoted to said nut-bar, and pivoted links D', said nut-bar F having removable journalbolts f3 extending through the side bars of the ladders, substantially as specified.

'7. The combi nat-ion, with a tu r11-table truck, of the drivers seat, standards R', secured rigidly to the turn-table, a screw, a traveling nutbar, and a ladder pivoted to said traveling nut-bar, so that the act of` raising the ladder moves the ladder away from the seat-standards, thereby permitting the ladder to be raised Without removing the seat-standards, substantially as specified.

S. The combination of the main ladder and extension-ladder, the side bars of the latter iitting Within and directly against the side bars of `the former, friction-rollers countersunk in the ladder side bars for the meeting side faces of the ladder side bars to bear against, said friction rollers projecting slightly beyond the surface of the side bars, so as to relieve the friction and at the saine time permit the side bars to support each other and prevent extraordinary strain upon the pivots of the friction-rollers, and a ladderextending cable traveling on pulleys the axes of which are parallel to the rungs of the ladder, substantially as specied.

9. The combination, in a turn-table having a trucklf rame B, furnished with standards B2, provided with hand ladder-supports B4, the rear axle of said truck having a fifth-wheel connection with the truck-frame, anda removable steering-shaft extending up through the hand-ladders to hold them in place, substantially as specified.

l0. The combination, in a turn-table truck having a truck-frame mounted upon fifthwheels, of a steering mechanism, a removable steering-shaft T, a steering-Wheel T', having a socketed shaft engaging the end of said steerin g-shaft and a pivoted frame V on which said steering-Wheel is journaled, said pivoted frame V being pivoted to upright standards on one, side of the truck-frame, so that it may be swung out of the way of the ladders when they are being raised, substantially as specified.

ll. The combination, ina tiun-table-truck, having' a truck-frame mounted upon fifth- Wheels, of a steering mechanism, a removable steering-shaft T, a steering-Wheel T', having a socketed shaft engaging the Vend of said steering-shaft, and a pivoted frame Von which said steering-wheel is journaled, said pivoted frame V being pivoted to upright standards on one side of the truck-frame, so that it may be swung out of the Way of the ladders when they are being raised, said pivoted frame V being furnished with a steersmans seat V2, substantially as specified.

l2. The conibinationgvith a turn-table eX- tension-ladder truck having a main ladder pivotally mounted on the turn-table, an extension-ladder sliding thereon above the rungs of the main ladder, and a screw raising meehanisrn, of Water-pipes secured to the side bars of the main ladder, one on each side, under thc rungs thereof and furnished with branches connecting the same at the top, said screw raising mechanism being mounted on the turn-table, so that the ladder and Water-pipe may be raised to any elevation and poised in any direction desired, substantially as specified.

EV'ERETT B. PRESTON.

Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDA'Y, EDMUND ADcocK. 

